Chapter 12 There's a light
Winifred's big eyes looked at the on coming Orcs before she sprang into action. The rest of her company had already vacated their seats around the blazing fire and met the Orcs head on. Winifred stared for a moment as her eyes found Lord Glorfindel, the famous elven warrior. He was in his prime with his long sure sword. He was jumping and twirling and ducking between the Orcs, and every enemy that was touched by his blade seemed to fall. His elven companions also we're in an intricate dance with the Orcs. Almund for his part was holding up well on his own, keeping the Orcs from reaching an unarmed Winifred.
Winifred cursed her self as she skirted around the campfire to retrieve her Bow and arrows, she had left her sword and her helmet next to her tent and only had a long knife at her hip.
Grabbing her first arrow, Winifred drew back the bow, and quickly let it fly into the neck of an Orc headed for Almund, no time to congratulated herself, Winifred grabbed another arrow. She aimed for an Orc advancing on herself. This Orc fell with an arrow embedded into its eye socket. Winifred dispatched three more Orcs before she had to draw out her knife, holding it low.
She felt like she had brought a knife to a gun show. An Orc charged at her and Winifred dodged the powerful blow, aimed at her shoulder. She got close to the Orc and landed a slice to his rib cage, under his crude armor. The cut was not enough to end him though as he pushed her away. Winifred charged him, with her knife held in her fist. The Orc blocked her, but Winifred twisted into the block and brought the knife down into his gut, then she pulled it up. She yanked it out as another Orc advanced to her. She nearly lost her own head. Roughly, she was able to push the Orc off and kneeling she pulled the short knife out of her boot. Now she had two Knives, each was held in a different grip. With power, she jumped up and caught the Orc in the face, leaving a long slice. The Orc squealed as blood sputtered from its eye. Not stopping, she turned on her heel and implanted her short knife into its temple. With a hard tug she withdrew her knife from its head.
She looked around and saw that her group was gaining the upper hand. She heard a noise behind her. Winifred turned as the blade connected with her right shoulder. Winifred had her metal shoulder pads on but she still felt this blow. The blow made Winifred drop her long knife, Winifred barely kept herself on her feet. She looked up as the Orc caught her again in the ribs; this brought her to the ground.
"Lady Winifred!" she heard Almund call as he came to her side. He dispatched the Orc and tossed Winifred her sword. "Forgetting something?" He said dispassionately as he went back into the fray. She pulled her sword out and followed Almund; together they took down many Orcs. So many times had she gone against Almund on the practice field. Now she was fighting besides him. Knowing his style Winifred was able to cover his weak spots, covering his flank. They called out warnings to each other.
Soon the party of five was able to overturn the tides, where the enemy had come in a wave to overrun the group, the Orcs had underestimated the abilities of the travelers. Lord Glorfindel and his brethren took down the bulk of the Orcs slain. All were in constant motion to and fro, having faster senses. Orcs started leaving the campsite, abandoning the attack, concerned with saving their own hide.
Winifred turned to ask Almund if they should follow their prey when Winifred felt a pinch in her leg and lost the ability to stand. Staggering, Winifred grabbed Almund's cloak as she fell, crying out in pain. Winifred looked down at her right thigh and saw an arrowhead protruding from her leg. She collapsed on the ground, just as an Orc grabbed Winifred by her hair and started dragging her away. Attempting to take Winifred with the retreating forces. Another Orc had charged at Almund.
"NO!" Winifred heard Almund shout, Winifred struggled as much as she could but she was beginning to feel the arrow that was still lodged into her thigh, Winifred brought her right hand down to stabilize the arrow. She grasped at the rough hand pulled at her hair, and tried to craw it off with her free left hand. She could not see what happened next but another hand came out and pulled on her wrist sharply. She heard a defining pop, as her arm was pulled out of its joint. This brought a feral scream to escape from Winifred's lip.
She heard a musical cry of the elves in response to her distress before they descended upon her captor, quickly releasing Winifred and killing any Orc in the vicinity. This onslaught ended the attack from the Orcs as those remaining joined their fellows who had already set off towards the misty mountains. Winifred was lying on the ground in agony, she could not move her left arm, and meanwhile her leg was on fire.
"My Lady!" Almund ran to her.
"Almund, my arm." She grasped out as Lord Glorfindel came to the pair.
"Lady Winifred's shoulder has been dislocated." Lord Glorfindel finished for Winifred.
"That is not all, she has been shot with an arrow as well." Almund said to the elven lord. Lord Glorfindel turned to one of his companions and called him forth. Lord Glorfindel spoke in a rush of elvish to the elf before the elf in turn tended to Winifred's arm.
Winifred was moaning in pain. Lord Glorfindel moved to Winifred's leg, inspecting the arrow. Lord Glorfindel lightly touched the arrowhead with his long finger, then brought his finger to his lips, before violently spitting. He turned to his comrade and spoke in his native musical voice.
"Poison?" Almund questioned.
"Yes, the arrowhead was dipped in poison. I know of the cure but I do not have the needed remedies at hand. We have one day before the poison spreads beyond recourse. " Lord Glorfindel said then turned to Winifred. "I will break the shaft of the arrow then pull the arrow out." Winifred nodded vaguely between moans of pains, keeping her eyes shut tightly. Lord Glorfindel worked quickly together to get the arrow out and bandage her leg. Once that was tended too, they set Winifred's shoulder.
Bandage, weak, and half conscious, Winifred was left close to the fire as the rest of the company broke down the camp and decided on a course of action. Lord Glorfindel took Almund aside.
"I will ride with Winifred, with all due haste to Lothlorien. Within the fortress of the Golden Wood is where the remedy for the poison will be found. They often have skirmishes with the Orcs across the river Anduin. The city and healers of Caras Galadhon are well versed in treating such an injury. My men will stay with you and lead you there. For the sake for time I must leave at once if we are to save her life." Lord Glorfindel pleaded with the reluctant Almund. Almund was uncomfortable being so close to the mysterious lands, and he did not want to leave her side. But Almund could see no other way. Almund nodded to Lord Glorfindel.
"Take Barefoot, she is faster, and has the stamina that will help you fly. And Lord Glorfindel, understand that you carry the Blessed Queen, while this may not make sense, know the hopes and future of Rohan lies with her. If she perishes, it could mean the end of Rohan."
After this Winifred was hoisted onto Barefoot, Lord Glorfindel held on to her as Barefoot flew into the darkness for Lothlorien.
"We will take no break," Lord Glorfindel claimed, then broke into elvish, speaking in a flow of musical instructions to Barefoot.
At first Winifred felt nothing but the pain from her wounds. Slowly the poison sank into her system. First, a numbing sensation traveled through her leg, then a tingling sensation. Just before sunrise her leg was noticeably swollen and her wound had turned a nasty red color, with milky white puss oozing out. Close to dusk they were in the out skirts of the wood. Getting within the woods was the first step, getting to the city was the next.
"Do you think we can make it." Winifred murmured to Lord Glorfindel. She was fighting with consciousness. Winifred was afraid to go to sleep, fearing never to wake again, even if her true love bestowed a kiss upon her lips like in the children's tales. For it would not be true loves first, and whilst she may have fallen into a story, love did not have the power to wake one from deaths door here.
"Have hope, Lady Winifred, Barefoot is a noble steed, and she is flying to Caras Galadhon ." The elf said. Winifred smiled sadly, she could feel herself slipping off into a dreamless slumber. "I just want to see him one last time. There is so much I must warn him of," Winifred whispered to the night.
"Have heart, Lady Winifred, the Blessed Queen of Rohan. You have much to do before your time on middle earth is over," said a musical unknown voice in her head before Winifred drifted.
Far away on the fields of Rohan.
"Have you heard any word of her?" Eomer said to his captain, Eothain, forgetting the piece of wood he had whittled. Eomer looked exhausted, crestfallen, he was the shell of the man Winifred had met on her first arrival to middle earth. He wore his amour, his helmet and sword resting besides him. His hair was falling out of the braid it had been placed in. He was sitting on a rock in front of a campfire, a fare of rabbits roasted on a spit, Eomer's men all around him, setting up camp, taking care of the horses, patrolling.
"No, my lord, no word has been heard from her in Edoras." Eothain said, standing before his leader, regretting each word that left his lips. "But if Lady Winifred said she would return before half a year, then she still has time…"
Eomer stood up and started pacing before his captain. "That is not what unsettles me, Eothain. It is a… a feeling. I awoke from sleep last evening to a sharp pain in my chest." Eomer spoke low, "I can not explain it but I fear she is in danger, I know she is in danger." Eothain had never heard the third Marshal of the Riddermark speak so openly before, let alone of any feelings he had.
"Almund is with her my lord, he would perish himself before he let anything befall the Lady, my lord." Eothain tried to reassure Eomer.
"He is but one man, one sword, he could not save her from many. I was a fool to let her go." Eomer said in anger, halting his procession.
"She is a strong woman, more willful than Lady Eowyn. I do not believe you could have stopped her." Eothain said, coming to put a reassuring hand on his Lords shoulder. Eomer turned to look into the fire and remained silently. Eothain had long suspected a connection between the third marshal of the mark and Lady Winifred, but after her departure, it was not longer something Eomer was able to hide. Eothain was the only man Eomer trust to talk too about the subject.
"Shall we travel north in search of her my Lord?" Eothain asked. Eomer shook his head.
"What is done, can not be undone. I made a promise. I will keep my word." Eomer said. Silence descended between the two.
"I also bring news from Lord Theodred." Eothain said. This got Eomer's attention. "The Wildman from Dunland grow more confident in the west, Theodred says it wont be much longer before a battle will be fought on the fords of Isen and not on their western banks. Lord Theodred also is beginning to suspect Saruman's hand in all of this."
"I feared such news, Wildman in the west, Orcs in the east, and Saruman in the mist of it all. The Orcs have increased their passages through the plains, becoming bolder. The events must be connect. We must start pursuing the Orcs, end them, seek their origin." Eomer said in another surge of anger. " Rohan is in dire need, we must take action."
"But the King's orders, My Lord…" Eothain said before Eomer interrupted him.
"More like Wormtongue." Eomer snapped. " How much longer will we take this beating, while doing nothing. Evil is growing on the borders of Rohan. Lady Winifred knew the fear of the horse lords would only deter the evil for so long. No longer do they fear us, we are but sleeping sheep. " Eomer finished with a deep sigh, the sigh of a powerless man.
Eomer brought up his left hand, staring at the scar that had bound Winifred to him in blood. I will return to you, I love only you, the words that Winifred had spoken to him passed through him, as if on a breeze. He brought his scarred hand to his heart, and hoped Winifred was safe and on her way back to Rohan.
Winifred was safe. Days later, after closing her eyes astride Barefoot, Winfred woke in the city of Caras Galadhon, in the realm of Lothlorien.
Winifred slowly came to. She could hear familiar children's voices nearby, for that is the sound that woke her.
"Do you think she'll wake up today, Merry?" Pippen asked his friend.
"I don't know pip, why don't you go ask Lady Galadriel? " Merry answered.
"And climb up all those ladders again? Besides, I dare not intrude on the Lady Galadriel alone." Pippen answered easily.
"Too right, you are. Well if she doesn't wake up soon, we'll let her be and go find Legolas and Gimli." Merry said. Just then Winifred groaned, startling both hobbits.
"Lady Winifred!" Pippen exclaimed.
"Quick pip, go let Aragorn, and Lord Glorfindel know she's awake!" Merry said. Winifred could hear Pippen's scampering feet leave her side.
"Water." Winifred's scratchy voice said as she slowly opened her eyes. Merry brought a silver cup to her lips and Winifred took a long drink of cool clean water.
"Where am I?" Winifred asked the little hobbit. Winifred took notice of her surroundings. Before she finished her sentence she had an answer to her question. She was in an open room. No walls were in place, no rails, only a screen placed on the far end of the room where Winifred could see the truck of a tree. Winifred was surrounded by glowing tree limbs of silver-grey with bright shining gold leaves, which offered her enough privacy as she could hardly see anything but that. She could also hear many voices of elves singing high above her. The room had the bed, a few chairs, a couch, and a low dresser, which housed a tall pitcher and the silver cup of water.
"You're in Lothlorien, or the Golden Wood as Aragorn says it's called by the men of middle earth. You arrived a few days ago with Lord Glorfindel. We were so surprised to see you, Lady Winifred. Quiet a scare you gave us too." Merry was rattling on. Winifred sat a little further up in bed, though it was a difficult task. Her left arm was tightly bound to her torso, keeping it still and in place. It was only sore if she tried to move her arm, otherwise it was forgettable. Her leg was also heavily bandage, but the numbing and tingling sensation had left. The wound its self still hurt and made her leg immobile.
Pippen returned with Lord Glorfindel and Aragorn. While Winifred was happy to see both Pippen and Aragorn, her main focus was on the elf Lord.
"Pippen, Lord Aragorn," She greeted them. "Lord Glorfindel how is Barefoot?" Winifred said, getting straight to the point.
"Barefoot is content in the stable with a never-ending supply of apples and a daily cleaning. Though I think Barefoot is anxious to see you." Lord Glorfindel said to his traveling companion.
"And the others, where is Almund? Have they arrived yet?" Winifred asked.
"No, they have not arrived, yesterday scouts were sent to look of them near the northern border. We should be hearing soon if they have been spotted." Lord Glorfindel answered. Aragorn stepped forward.
"We also entered from the northern border but a few days before yourself, following us came a pack of Orcs. As we came to the city a troop of scouts left for the border. I am sure we will hear news of them soon." Aragorn's words brought comfort to Winifred.
"What happened? Last I remember, we had entered the wood." Winifred turned back to Lord Glorfindel.
"Lady Galadriel saw our coming and sent a troop of elves to our aid. You had just closed your eyes when they spotted us and came to our aid, antidote in hand. We spent a night in the woods, tending to you. Once the symptoms started to dissipated we came to the city." Lord Glorfindel informed Winifred.
"We were so surprised to see you, Lady Winifred. And so worried, for you were as pale as snow, and Almund was nowhere to be found. You are never without Almund. And you come with a host of elves walking in a slow procession as they do. We thought you were dead at first sight!" Pippen said quickly, beating anyone else to the story.
"Lord Aragorn, has some theory's on the Orcs that attacked us, Lady Winifred" Lord Glorfindel said.
"I believe they came from Moria, for we had just left the mines. The Orcs that pursued us came from the mines." Aragorn said. Winifred was nodding along with Aragorn. She should have known the danger the fellowship would stir up in this region, the attack on her party had been an oversight.
"Lady Winifred…" Merry said, coming to sit on the edge of the bed, with Pippen following his lead. "We also have some bad news to tell you… Gandalf has fallen."
So Pippen, Merry, with help from Aragorn told the tale of the fellowship starting from the beginning of the journey. Lord Glorfindel excused himself, having already been told the tale. Sam also came up to Winifred's loft as it were, to visit her when news spread of her awakening.
"…And so, we made for Lothlorien." Pippen finally ended the long telling.
"Well I know Gandalf would not want you to be idle in mourning. He was a man of purpose. I think he would be encouraging the continuation of the company if he were here." Winifred said to the sullen hobbits, Aragorn was standing quietly in the back.
"We are lost without him, My Lady. He was our guide." Sam said to Winifred.
"You are lost? Do you not know where you are Sam? You are in Lothlorien, the heart of all Elves of middle earth. Surely you noticed?" Winifred cheekily said, making Sam blush.
"You know my meaning, My Lady. How can we know what he meant for us to do?" Sam said in his little voice. Winifred reached for Sam's small hand.
"Very simple. He is no longer here to guide you. You must look at the information you have and make the soundest decision you can." Winifred tried to comfort the hobbits.
Aragorn had been correct, Almund had arrived that night. After taking comfort from Winifred's wellbeing he finally gave in to the elven handlers, letting them take his items for sharpening, cleaning, and mending.
Winifred was located on the first level of a mallorn tree, Almund was situated at the base of the tree, with a comfortable couch, and shade. The Rohan Company was in the clearing next to the fellowship.
Time elapsed different in Lothlorien then it did in the rest of the world, it was comparable to her time in Rivendell. Winifred's arm was released from its wrap a few days after she woke, and the soreness a few days later. Her leg also seemed to be healing quickly. She could not leave her Bed for some time, but after some hobbling around the loft she was slowly able to climbing down her ladder to go exploring.
Lothlorien was incandescently beautiful. While it was winter outside the golden wood, it did not affect life inside. The grass was still lush and green, with small delicate white flowers decorating the floor. The huge mallorn trees were another spectacular sight to behold. With large glowing silver-gray trunks, adorn with golden leafs. Strong enough to house many elves. While Winfred could hear the elves singing, she never saw an elf, unless then wanted to be seen.
Of the fellowship, Boromir had been pleased to see Winifred, though the glimmer of hope had left his eyes, he remained distance and isolated among the fellowship, many tried to dissuade this. Legolas and Gimli often went wandering together, no one really knew what they did. Pippin and Merry also went exploring, they never went too far from the fellowship. Aragorn spent most of his time in the clearing given to the fellowship, too concerned with the next stage of the journey. Sam the loyal friend and servant of Frodo spent most of his time in the clearing allotted to the fellowship, seeing as every part of the Golden Wood looked the same, and he wanted to be close by incase Frodo needed anything. Frodo sometimes would leaving the clearing, though not often. He was becoming more introverted, listening but never adding to a conversation.
Winifred came across Frodo in a rare occurrence where neither had their loyal companions.
"Lady Winifred." Frodo said, and Winifred came to stand next to him, observing the fountain.
"Hello, Frodo." She replied, and they stood in comfortable silence for some time.
"Gandalf told me your secret." Frodo said suddenly. Winifred looked at the little hobbit, his cheeks had lost the rosy completion his peers still had. The light of his eyes had faded, he looked aged, and haunted.
"Oh?" Winifred said frozen. Did Gandalf tell Frodo where she really was from? Did Gandalf set up a back up plan incase something were to happen to him. Did he tell Frodo of Winifred's knowledge of the future?
"He told me of your legend. Of your destiny, the hope's of Rohan rests on your shoulders." Frodo said looking up to Winifred. Relaxing, Winifred nodded.
"Yes, it would seem I am the Blessed Queen, through me and my love we will rule over Rohan and bring it into a new age of peace and prosperity." Winifred said dryly, long since accepted the notion.
"What did you do when you found out?" Frodo asked. Winifred thought for a long moment, had it really been two and a half years since she appeared in the caves of helms deep?
"It was a shock. It was hard to believe. I still don't believe it. I guess I wont truly believe it until I have a crown on my head." She smiled lightly down at Frodo. "But I am lucky because I've had time to get used to the idea. I've lived in Rohan, I know the land, I know the people, I'm scared that I won't live up to the expectations. But I'm lucky because I wont be sitting on the throne alone. Eomer will be sitting right next to me, he is the man I love, and while it scares me to think about the responsibilities that will come with being a queen…a lifetime next to him… I don't see how it can get any better." Winifred spoke with such hope and love in her voice. Frodo gave her a small smile.
"You can see your future so clearly. I envy that. I can't see beyond the ring, I can't see beyond my next step." Frodo breathed out to Winifred.
"It seems so strange to me. The fellowship is made up of a King, a Prince, a Wizard, and yet I am the ring bearer. I fear I have not the strength. Since Gandalf has fallen, all I see is darkness and uncertain. Do we head for Gondor, or do we cross the river Anduin and head for Mordor?" Frodo asked of Winifred. "Some in the group are more outspoken in their opinions then others but I fear that their reasoning is not sound. It is impossible to make such a decision knowing the lives of many may depend on the path chosen." He finished. Winifred draped an arm around his shoulders, comforting the small hobbit.
"Dark times lie ahead of us, Frodo. A time will come when we must choose between what is easy and what it right. Just remember 'happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.'" Winifred said in comfort to the small hobbit. She hoped Frodo would remember this during the darker part of his path.
Winifred left the troubled hobbit shortly after this, passing Sam on her way back to her loft, her leg had started to tire. Winifred pitied Frodo, so much rested on him. While she knew what would come of the fellowship, she felt sorry to have to sit quietly by and watch it happen. Boromir would lose his life soon, should Winifred stop that? No, she long knew the answer to that question. The fellowship needed to break, Frodo and Sam needed to go to Mordor and run into Gollum. Pippen and Merry, needed to meet Treebeard, and rally the Ents for war against Saruman. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli where needed in Rohan, and helms deep. If she changed Boromir's fate all of this could change, all the moving pieces, the small intricate interactions that would take place and slowly build the end of Lord Sauron's reign would no longer happen, or at least not in the manner that Winifred knew, could she risk the fate of middle earth for one person? She had contemplation this very thing obsessively in Rohan. The answer was no, all she could do was prepare the fellowship for what was next.
It will not be long now until they are on their way, and Winifred herself will set out soon for home. Back to a home where Grima is self anointed voice and spirit of the king's will. Winifred could only imagine how horrid Grima had become in his power trip. The only thing Winifred had not decided on was how to handle Grima, should she let it be and say nothing? Winifred found that idea hard to swallow. With the delay in Lothlorien, Winifred was now concerned that her appearance in Edoras would bring Eomer to her, when he should be out defending the borders of Rohan and running into Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. After Eomer ran into the threesome, and providing them with horses, Eomer would go to the capital of Rohan, and tell the King of the Orcs with the white hand of Saruman. Grima would twist the events and charge Eomer with treason and imprison him for letting the threesome go without permission from the King.
With all those thoughts to concern Winifred, the only thought that brought Winifred warmth was seeing Eomer again.
Thanks for reading! So excited for the next couple of chapters! -C xoxo
